TODAY (Wednesday 26 November 2025), Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, commented on the new transitional relief cap on airports’ business rates announced at the Budget today:
“The Chancellor has staked the UK’s growth on airports, and while the changes to transitional relief are very welcome, an increase in their business rates of over 100% could still force some to review billions of pounds of transformational investments across the UK and potentially puts thousands of jobs at risk in the longer-term.
“This will obviously have a knock-on effect for the businesses that depend on airport connectivity in all areas of England, negatively impacting local economies that depend on the supply chains, tourists and connections their airports provide.
“It’s a short-sighted move that passengers will feel in their pockets with both hard-working families and business flyers experiencing price rises and more limited choices.
“That is why the long-term review into how airport business rates are calculated, also announced by government, is so important and we will engage with Treasury to ensure this delivers the positive outcome airports need to drive investment and economic growth.”
